Combination hand lamp and writing pad



Aug. 10, 1937. G. B. ANDERSON COMBINATION HAND LAMP AND WRITING PAD Filed March 12, 1936 Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIiIE COMBINATION HAND LAMP AND WRITING PAD Minn.

Application March 12, 1936, Serial No. 68,359

8 Claims.

' and over the pad to illuminate the latter and Without objectionably interfering with the function-ofthe lamp and lens to illumine objects in advance thereof. A further object is to provide an adjustable reflector that will serve the additional purpose of a pad protector, when the pad is not in use; and which reflector is arcuate in cross section, with dual advantages thereof in that it will better concentrate the reflected light on the writing surface of the pad, when in use, and

Willmore snugly and efiiciently embrace or close against the cylindrical lamp unit when not in use. A further object is to provide a simple, efficient, and practical means for compactly securing, supporting, and protecting the writing pad whereby the same will be readily accessible for use, but which will also be neatly enclosed and nested about the lamp unit, when idle, so as not to be objectionably cumbersome or interfere with the normal use, pocketing, or handling of 3 the device. The device is particularly intended for use by meter readers, police, car checkers, time-keepers, reporters, and others who are compelled orflnd it necessary to write under conditions where there is inadequate light; but of course may be used by anyone having occasion to make notes under such conditions.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a conventional design of hand lamp or so-called flashlight with my invention incorporated therein, but with the reflector in its closed position.

Fig. 2is a top or plan view of the left end of the unit, as shown in Fig. 1, but with the reflector and pad holder in their open or operative positions, and with the writingpad removed from the holder.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional elevation on the line 33 in Fig. 2, but with the writing pad in place. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the head end of the lamp unit showing the reflector and pad attachment' in vertical cross section, as on the line 44 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5--5' in "Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing more particularly and by reference characters, 6 designates the cylindrical tube or body member of a conventional type of flashlight or hand lamp, having a switch unit I for controlling the circuit to the bulb (not shown) which is disposedimmediately back of the lens Bin the headend of the casing. The cylinder or casing 6 is closed at its rear by a threaded cap 9 which is removed when it is desired to insert or substitute dry cells which supply current to the lamp. The lens 8 is held in place by a flanged collar I0 whichisthreaded on the front end of the casing 6. In the present instance this collarv I0 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm II which is preferably formed of flat, strap material so as to lie as close as possible against the surface of the casing 6, The pad support consists of a transversely disposed piece of material I2 which when in use is normally disposed in the horizontal position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The support I2, however, is formed of springy or resilient material so that it may be bent down into arcuate form over the cylinder 6, as shown in Fig. 5. The support I2 is attached centrally to the strip I I by spot welding or rivets as indicated at I3 in Fig. 2.

At its'front edges the member I2 is provided centrally with a pair of upwardly and inwardly extending tongues I 4' under which the writing pad I5 is releasably held as shown.

The reflector I6 is arcuately formed in cross section, and is pivotally secured to the collar or ring I!) as at ll, there being one pivot at each side of the unit. The pivots are also preferably provided with springs I8 which connect the collar II] with the reflector in such a manner as to yieldably urge the reflector into its upward or open position, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

The forward end of the reflector I6 has an inwardly bent flange I9 having an arcuate or curved edge which contacts against the lens 8, as shown in Fig. 4, when the reflector is in open position. This line of contact, however, is sufficiently high so that at least half of the light rays which are normally projected forwardly through the lens 8 will continue to be so directed in order that such light may be employed to illumine objects or numbers in advance of the unit. The light rays above the line of flange contact, however, are directed against the deflector in such.

a manner and at such an angle that they will be cast over the surface of the pad I5 in order to illuminate such surface when the pad is in use.

To efiect additional reflecting action I provide an angular flange 2|) at the opposite or normally 20 in the flange 20 to releasably secure the de-, flector in its closed position. When the latch is manually retracted it releases the flange 20 so that the deflector may move up into its operative position under the combined actions of the springs I8 and the resiliency of the support H.

The use and operation of the. device, while no doubt obvious from the foregoing description, may be briefly stated as follows:

Under normal circumstances, and when the pad is not to be used, the flashlight or hand lamp is used in the normal, conventional way and without the giving of any consideration whatever to the writing pad and reflector mechanism. When the operator desires to use the pad he merely releases the latch 2|, and if necessary lifts the deflector slightly until it moves to the position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, at which time the deflector flange l9 moves into a position with respect to the lens 8 where it will cut off a part of the. light rays and deflect such rays upwardly, rearwardly, and down upon the surface of the writing pad, which pad has assumed the horizontal position indicated in Fig. 3 under the normal, spring action of the support l2.

When the operator has made his notes or memorandums he then closes the deflector back into its initial position, whereuponthe holder l2 and pad I5 assume the arcuate position indicated in Fig. 5 until they are again to be called into use. While in this position the pad and holder are entirely enclosed by the deflector, supplemented by flanges 22 at the lateral edges of the member l2. It will be understood that when the pad l5 becomes depleted it can easily be substituted by a new pad or by a fresh supply of cards or sheets 45 if they are employed separately.

It may also be noted that in some instances lamps of this character employ lenses having plane, front surfaces, in which event the forward edge of the flange I9 may be given a correspond- 50 ing contour or shape in order thatit may contact with the surface of the lens in the manner above indicated.

It may also be noted that while itis preferable to attach the pad and reflector unit by means of the ring In, for which the body 6 is already 5 tect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a hand lamp having a cylindrical casing with a lens at' one end, of means for supporting a writing pad upon the casing rearwardly of said lens, a reflector pivotally 70 secured to the casing near the lens end thereof and adapted when in operative position to reflect light rays from the lens back and down upon the surface of said pad, said reflector being arcuate in cross section whereby when swung into a rear- 75 ward position it will cooperate with the casin to form an arcuate protective enclosure for the pad.

2. The combination with a hand lamp having a cylindrical casing with a lens at one end, of means for supporting a Writing pad upon the casing rearwardly of said lens, a reflector pivotally secured to the casing near the lens end thereof and adapted when in operative position to reflect light rays from the lens back and down upon the surface of said pad, said reflector being arcuate in cross section whereby when swung into a rearward position it will cooperate with the casing to form an arcuate protective enclosure for the pad, said pad supporting means comprising a resilient member adapted to be curved downwardly at its sides with the pad to conform with the form of said enclosure.

3. The combination with a hand lamp having a cylindrical casing with a lens at one end, of a horizontal pad support member secured upon the casing and being resilient whereby it may be laterally pressed downwardly to conform with the arcuate surface contour of the casing, and a curved cover hingedly secured to the casing adjacent the support member to form an enclosure over the pad when the latter is not in use, said cover, when in open position, being arranged to deflect light from the lens to the writing surface of the pad.

4. The combination with a hand lamp having a cylindrical casing and a lens at one end thereof, of a pad support mounted on the casing to operatively support a writing pad in horizontal position, said support being transversely yieldable whereby it may be laterally depressed to conform with the curvature of the cylinder, and an adjustable reflector operatively disposed to deflect light from the lens over the writing surface of the pad, said reflector being curved in cross section and adjustable to a position where it will enclose the support and pad when the support is laterally depressed over the casing. I V

5. The combination with a hand lamp having a cylindrical casing and a lens at one end thereof, of a pad support mounted on the casing to' operatively support a writing pad in horizontal position, said support being transversely yieldable whereby it may be laterally depressed-to conform with the curvature of the cylinder, and an adjustable reflector operatively disposed to deflect,

light from the lens over the writing surface of' the pad, said reflector being curved in cross section and adjustable to a position where it will enclose the support and pad when the support is laterally depressed over the casing, said reflector having a forward edge movable into contact with the face of the lens at a position where it will intercept part only of the light rays passing therethrough while permitting the balance of the light rays to be employed for illuminating objects or reading matter in front of the lamp.

6. The combination with a hand lamp having a cylindrical casing and a lens at one end thereof, of a pad support mounted on the casing to operatively support a writing pad in horizontal position, said support being transversely yieldable whereby it may be laterally depressed to conform with the curvature of the cylinder, and an adjustable reflector operatively disposed to deflect light from the lens over the writing surface of the pad, said reflector being curved in cross section and having front and rear flanges adapted to enclose the support and pad thereon when in closed position. r i c a cylindrical casing and a lens at one end thereof, of a pad support mounted on the casing to operatively support a writing pad in horizontal position, said support being transversely yieldable whereby it may be laterally depressed to conform with the curvature of the cylinder, and an adjustable reflector operatively disposed to deflect light from the lens over the writing surface of the pad, said reflector being curved in cross section and adjustable to a position where it will enclose the support and pad when the support is laterally depressed over the casing, and means for releasably securing the reflector in closed position.

8. The combination with a hand lamp having a cylindrical casing and a lens at one end thereof, of a pad support mounted on the casing to operatively support a writing pad in horizontal position, said support being transversely yieldable whereby it may be laterally depressed to conform with the curvature of the cylinder, and an adjustable reflector operatively disposed to deflect light from the lens over the writing surface of the pad, said reflector being curved in cross section and adjustable to a position where it will enclose the support and pad when the support is laterally depressed over the casing. and said support having lateral flanges cooperative with the reflector, when closed, to enclose the pad.

GUSTAF B. ANDERSON. 

